COVID-19 i.e coronavirus of December 2019 that effectively killed many in China and all over the world later, is amazing in its potential to scare the human kind with its nano microscopic existence, as a virus, smaller than bacteria. No wonder corona, a crown-shaped virus, is ruling the world at present, hopping from place to place. Is easy-mobility of people from place to place, is the reason for its spread? Doesn’t seem to be. Earlier, before the advent/invention of railways and airplane, this kind of pandemics had spread. The bubonic plague is one such pandemic, in the 14th century, that shook the world, killing millions of people. In each crisis, the scientists of the world, through their humongous efforts of research and analysis, co-operation and collective endeavour, were able to find drugs that annihilate the potential dangers of these harmful viruses. After all, scientists are all one community to make a joint endeavor for the welfare of mankind.
The world leaders have become alert in taking measures, scientifically, to contain the virus and to save their people. Generally, the trust levels of people on politicians, in any country, is low. Now, this is the right time for the politicians to bridge that trust deficit by effectively controlling the Covid-19 and its resultant loss of lives. India is taking right steps in making awareness campaigns of the dangers of the specific virus. On the other side, magaphoning the precautions to be followed in order not to fall victim of the said virus. The Union Health Minister Shri Harsh Vardhan has been doing his job indefatigably in order to contain the spread of coronavirus. The closure of schools and cancellation of public events are part of the program.
Our prime minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, whose words people of India listen to intently, has been advising people regarding the care to be taken and for the stoppage of non-essential travel abroad. In fact, he instructed his ministerial colleagues not to take foreign tours/jaunts. As a matter of fact, treating this as the right time to coordinate with the neighbouring countries, PM Modi has called for SAARC-video conferencing to chalk out a strong strategy to fight coronavirus, that was immediately responded by Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and surprisingly Pakistan.
The world has become ‘one’ because of coronavirus. For, it (the virus) doesn’t care about boundaries, politics or religion to inflict and cause disease. It attacked all kinds of people all over the nations. In a way, it has unified the world nations in their fight against it. However, as is the wont of human nature, some leaders in the world, specially of US, are calling the coronavirus as ‘Wuhan virus’ and ‘foreign virus’, which is in poor taste.
In this internet-age, people are not distinguishing cultures of other nations as alien to them. There is a kind of cultural tolerance. Since, coronavirus is not air-borne and is transmitted by touch to an extent, the western custom of shaking hands has taken a back-seat. The world leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and Donald Trump of US have been guiding their people to follow the Indian custom of Namaskar (with folded hands), from a distance, to greet people, as is done in India. When one person does Namaskar to the other, he is respecting the divine soul in the other and bowing before it. This is what many Indians believe. How did shaking hands become a custom ? Many among us, do not know the reason as to why.
Here goes popular story: Long time ago, people were afraid of strangers. They were also afraid to talk to the strangers. For, in those days, there were many thieves and robbers. Those men were dangerous as they carried knives in their hands. So one man was afraid to meet another. When they did meet, each showed his empty hand to the other (to prove that he had nothing in his hands), then came close and shook hands. It meant: We are friends. That was long ago. Even now, the same custom is followed as a friendly gesture. Namaste in Indian custom is associated with respect and divinity towards the other person. It indicates nobility. So, the coronavirus is propogating good things crosscultural!
Anticipating, the scale of coronavirus disease spread (if not checked properly, it could wipe out villages), the Indian government is taking all steps to contain it. And at the same time instilling confidence among people not to panic. It’s doing a balancing act. Hope our scientists subdue the virus by inventing some inoculation against it. That would be a big achievement of human kind. It is heard that the said drug is under trial stage. Hence people, right now, should be careful of the deadly virus, specially the elderly and aged-population of all nations. So, the sooner the solution comes to this pandemic, the better.
